Technology

Carmel App Postpones Debut In St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Carmel Limousine, St. Louis' first app-based car-hailing service, won't be ready for another week. The company hoped to start St. Louis service this Monday, officially bringing the city into the growing circle of dozens of major American cities with access to a car and driver at the push of a button.

"The Carmel Limousine App approved by the St. Louis Taxi Commission last week is continuing to undergo testing and finalizing compliance with all rules and regulations and will therefore not be available to the St. Louis market on March 3, 2014, as originally planned," the company said in a released statement.

Carmel says it’s making up for the delay by offering a “St. Louis Special” worth $22 in “car cash,” the app’s frequent-rider reward system. New riders who download the Carmel app automatically get $66 in “car cash,” which can be used to discount the price of the ride by 20%, but St. Louisans will start with $88 -- an extra $22.

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — A tweet by St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay that St. Louis will soon get its first app-dispatched car service next week sparked optimism among frequent cab riders that Uber, the much-hyped car service app based in San Francisco, was coming to town.

Carmel received approval for a dispatch license with the Metropolitan St. Louis Taxicab Commission (MTC) Tuesday morning. Carmel will become St. Louis’ first app-dispatched luxury car service — cab companies including St. Louis County Cab and Laclede Cab offer app-based hailing and payment options, but do not offer luxury sedans. The Carmel app will be available for use in St. Louis beginning March 3.